Structure-Based Questions
"You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever."
Question:
How does the speaker structure his reasoning in this excerpt?
A. He begins with a threat and ends with an accusation.
B. He opens with a compliment, makes a conditional offer, and ends with a respectful boundary.
C. He leads with anger and demands an immediate answer.
D. He presents a list of reasons why they should be together.
B. He opens with a compliment, makes a conditional offer, and ends with a respectful boundary.
"I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any. You must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman."
Question:
How effectively does the speaker's reasoning support her argument?
A. No; she changes the topic and avoids addressing his argument.
B. Yes; by using sarcasm, she clearly shows that his standards are unrealistic.
C. Yes; she praises the accomplishments of women she knows.
D. No; she agrees with him, which contradicts her earlier point.
B. Yes, through sarcasm, she clearly demonstrates that his standards are unrealistic.
"If I were as I once was, I would have made a different decision, but as it stands, I have learned enough from my past mistakes to see the value in choosing carefully. One must not act impulsively, no matter how tempting the moment may seem."
Question:
What is the function of the speaker’s reasoning in this passage?
A. It serves to emphasize the speaker’s growth by showing that past experiences have taught them to avoid hasty decisions.
B. It focuses on the speaker’s regret and distracts from the main argument.
C. It attempts to justify a recent decision, even though the reasoning seems inconsistent.
D. It highlights the speaker’s emotional conflict, which weakens the argument’s clarity.
A. It serves to emphasize the speaker’s growth by showing that past experiences have taught them to avoid hasty decisions.
"I could easily forgive his pride if he had not mortified mine. Pride is a very common failing, I believe. Every person has a certain degree of it, and it may even be useful. But pride that leads one to humiliate others—that is what I cannot accept."
Question:
Which best describes the structure of the speaker’s reasoning?
A. She starts with a personal judgment, then generalizes about pride, and finally narrows back to the specific kind of pride she rejects.
B. She presents statistics about pride, then applies them to herself.
C. She compares two people’s pride and explains why one is worse.
D. She defines pride negatively from the start and sticks to that perspective.
A. She starts with a personal judgment, then generalizes about pride, and finally narrows back to the specific kind of pride she rejects.
"You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it. From the very beginning—from the first moment, I may almost say—I saw your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain for the feelings of others."
Question:
How effectively does the speaker support her rejection of the proposal?
A. Yes; she admits she is being emotional, which supports her honesty.
B. No; she exaggerates and weakens her argument.
C. Yes; she cites specific character flaws that justify her decision.
D. No; she focuses more on tone than on logical reasoning.
C. Yes; she refers to specific character flaws that justify her decision.
"I have always disliked this place, and I would leave it tomorrow if I could. But I cannot. You, Mr. Darcy, are here and I must endure your presence. But I will not pretend that I am at ease."
Question:
What function does the speaker’s reasoning serve in this moment?
A. It establishes a feeling of resignation and bitterness, which makes the speaker’s argument against the situation more relatable.
B. It explains her willingness to endure discomfort for the sake of a greater cause.
C. It highlights her emotional independence and determination to stand firm despite her discomfort.
D. It functions to justify her previous actions by emphasizing her discomfort.
C. It highlights her emotional independence and determination to stand firm despite her discomfort.
"You chose to believe Mr. Wickham without ever asking for another account. You accepted his charm as truth, and my reserve as guilt. I wonder—was it truly evidence you sought, or simply a story that suited your expectations? You speak of justice, yet acted on assumption. What is more prideful: my silence, or your certainty?"
Question:
How does the speaker structure their reasoning?
A. They begin with a factual accusation, then question the listener’s motives, and end by turning the moral judgment back onto the listener.
B. They list several emotional grievances before ultimately defending their own pride.
C. They present contrasting character profiles of two individuals to highlight hypocrisy.
D. They open with rhetorical questions to shift blame and avoid self-criticism.
A. They begin with a factual accusation, then question the listener’s motives, and end by turning the moral judgment back onto the listener.
"You chose to believe a charming man who told you what you wanted to hear, and you ignored the facts. You were too ready to admire him because he flattered you, while dismissing others who said less but acted better. If you had judged by character rather than charm, you would not be in this situation now."
Question:
How effective is the speaker’s reasoning in supporting her central point about discernment?
A. Ineffective; she is too focused on blaming and fails to offer a solution.
B. Effective only in part; she describes the problem but does not connect it to her thesis.
C. Ineffective; she assumes too much about the listener’s intentions without evidence.
D. Highly effective; she identifies a pattern of flawed judgment and contrasts appearances with character, reinforcing her claim.
D. Highly effective; she identifies a pattern of flawed judgment and contrasts appearances with character, reinforcing her claim.
"I am not afraid of your criticisms, for I know that I have done what I believe is right. However, I cannot ignore the fact that my actions have hurt those I care about. It is not the opinion of the masses that matters to me, but the consequences I must now face."
Question:
What is the function of this reasoning in the speaker's argument?
A. It allows the speaker to justify their actions by dismissing public opinion, while also acknowledging personal responsibility.
B. It functions to appeal to the emotions of the listener by emphasizing the speaker's vulnerability.
C. It weakens the speaker’s argument by focusing too much on the reactions of others.
D. It undermines the speaker's credibility by admitting failure and shifting blame.
A. It allows the speaker to justify their actions by dismissing public opinion, while also acknowledging personal responsibility.